
One of the things I love about the megayacht business is that I learn something new practically every day. And I’ve just learned about a truly beautiful Taiwanese custom in which an offering is made to ask for good luck and a deity’s protection when a groundbreaking takes place.
That’s what was going on in the scene above, at Kha Shing Enterprises, the Taiwanese shipyard where Hargrave Custom Yachts are built. Kha Shing recently embarked upon a groundbreaking to expand its facilities, and it invited Hargrave’s executives to attend the rituals.
The sticks the Kha Shing executives as well as Mike DiCondina, Hargrave’s president (black shirt), and Phil McIntosh, Hargrave’s vice president for Asia Pacific construction (white shirt), are holding are called Joss sticks. These are incense sticks that are often burned during religious ceremonies throughout many Asian countries, but they can also be burned, as in this case, during a groundbreaking. The groundbreaking itself is also quite symbolic: It gives notice to the god of the land that you’re the new landlord and that you plan to build something. Once Kha Shing’s team is finished constructing the building, they will carry on the offering by asking the god to safeguard the property.“This was a very joyful occasion–many prayers were spoken invoking God and their ancestors for guidance, approval, protection, and prosperity over the land and the building. It was truly a moving celebration,” DiCondina says.
The Joss sticks continued burning among food offerings set out for both the deity and the ancestors, followed by firecrackers set off in celebration. Then DiCondina and McIntosh were asked as honored guests to break ground alongside Kha Shing’s executives (below).It’s been a busy past few weeks for Hargrave’s team. Just last weekend Pete Colagiovanni, vice president of new boat sales, represented Hargrave at the Jason Taylor Celebrity Golf Classic in Florida. Hargrave was a major sponsor, as it has been in the past. Taylor, a player with the Miami Dolphins (and recent contestant on the TV show “Dancing With the Stars”), and his wife Katina purchased a Hargrave a few years ago, and even though they recently sold the 99-footer, they’re still good friends with the builder’s staff. The event raised more than a quarter million dollars, the proceeds of which went to organizations such as Holtz Children’s Hospital and Taylor’s own Jason Taylor Foundation. The latter offers programs in youth literacy and education, health and wellness, mentorship, and others that aim to end poverty.
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